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International Yoga Day: 3 Benefits Of Doing Yoga

By Modupeoluwa Adekanye

21 June 2021   |   12:01 pm

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It is another International Yoga Day; another day for you to consider engaging in Yoga. Yoga is a mind and body practice. Various styles of yoga combine physical postures, breathing techniques, and meditation or relaxation. Almost every gym and fitness center nowadays offers at least one class in yoga, a workout that involves performing a…

International Yoga Day: 3 Benefits Of Doing Yoga

It is another International Yoga Day; another day for you to consider engaging in Yoga. Yoga is a mind and body practice. Various styles of yoga combine physical postures, breathing techniques, and meditation or relaxation.

Almost every gym and fitness center nowadays offers at least one class in yoga, a workout that involves performing a series of flexibility- and strength-building poses.

However, yoga is more than just an exercise. It is also a spiritual discipline with a long history. Yoga originated in India.

The beginnings of the tradition are uncertain, but in the second or third century A.D., an Indian scholar named Patañjal penned the Yoga Sutras, 196 aphorisms that ultimately defined yoga as “the stilling of the changing states of the mind.”

Today, the Yoga Sutras are considered the fundamental text of yoga, though the practice itself certainly predates Patañjal’s treatise.

Below are some benefits that come with Yoga:

Decreases Stress
Yoga is known for its ability to ease stress and promote relaxation. In fact, multiple studies have shown that it can decrease the secretion of cortisol, the primary stress hormone. Yoga can benefit three aspects of ourselves that are often affected by stress: our body, mind, and breathing. You don’t have to wait to feel stressed out to do yoga, and you should not. Start today and feel the difference.

Relieves Anxiety
Many people begin practicing yoga as a way to cope with feelings of anxiety. Interestingly enough, there is quite a bit of research showing that yoga can help reduce anxiety. Meditation, visualization, and focusing on breathing can help with letting go of worry and fear. The overall practice of yoga can elicit the relaxation response, allowing both the body and mind to gain a sense of calm and ease.

Improves Quality of Life
Yoga is becoming increasingly common as an adjunct therapy to improve the quality of life for many individuals. Yoga is actually a stronger armour for health and happiness. It becomes even more important as you age. Doing few yoga asanas and poses every day can make a world of difference for your well-being. So, it’s smart to invest few minutes in practicing yoga on a daily basis that may make you happiest and healthiest.

Regular yoga helps in maintaining a good body shape, vigour, healthy mind, and calm soul. It helps in relieving stress and improves the quality of sleep. Yoga is powerful and can be practised by anyone, anywhere, and is extremely beneficial to be done in the morning time after a long sleep of seven to eight hours. At this time your mind is totally relaxed and responds to movements positively and more effectively.